Search Results (5)

Intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) is a common neurological condition in veterinary medicine, with chondrodystrophic breeds being particularly susceptible. Studies have compared breed-related risks and clinical characteristics, but here, we investigate the disease in three common chondrodystrophic breeds, the English cocker spaniel, French bulldog and dachshund, and aim to describe and compare the clinical features and anatomical distribution between them. We performed a multicentre retrospective observational study that included 465 dachshunds, 327 French bulldogs and 145 English cocker spaniels with an imaging confirmed diagnosis of IVDE. The mean age at presentation differed in all three breeds, with the French bulldog presenting youngest and English cocker spaniels presenting oldest. IVDE was most common in the thoracolumbar region in all three breeds, although French bulldogs showed the highest proportion of cervical IVDE, dachshunds the highest proportion of thoracolumbar IVDE, and English cocker spaniels the highest proportion of lumbosacral IVDE. The results of this study suggest a differing clinical presentation for IVDE between these three breeds with regard to both the age of onset and the anatomical region most likely to be affected. Full article

Yeast-purified beta-1,3/1,6-glucans (BG) can modulate dogs’ immune systems and microbiome, but the optimal inclusion dose remains unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of 0.0, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.28% inclusion of BG in a dry extruded diet on the digestibility, immunity, and fecal microbiota of healthy adult dogs. Eight male and female border collies [n = 4; body condition score (BCS) = 5] and English cocker spaniels (n = 4; BCS = 5), aged 3.5 ± 0.5 years, were randomly distributed into two 4 × 4 balanced Latin squares. Fecal microbiota (using 16S rRNA sequencing, Illumina^®), apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of nutrients, fecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), ammoniacal nitrogen, lactic acid, IgA and pH, lymphocyte immunophenotyping, intensity and percentage of phagocytosis and oxidative burst were determined. No differences were observed in Faith (p = 0.1414) and Pielou-evenness (p = 0.1151) between treatments, but beta diversity was different between 0.0% and 0.14% BG groups (p = 0.047). Moreover, the Firmicutes phylum was the most abundant in all groups and exhibited the highest relative abundance after the consumption of 0.14% BG, a finding considered beneficial for the canine microbiome. The Erysipelotrichaceae and Ruminococcaceae families, along with the Faecalibacterium and Prevotella genera, considered favorable for their involvement in butyrate production and other metabolites, showed increased abundance after the consumption of 0.14% BG. The potentially pathogenic Proteobacteria phylum displayed lower abundance after the consumption of 0.14% BG. Fecal concentrations of the evaluated compounds and pH did not differ after consumption of the BG at all percentages. Higher crude protein ADC was found after 0.14 and 0.28% BG consumption (p < 0.0001), but no differences were found for other nutrients. Phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and lymphocyte populations were not modulated by any of the treatments; however, 0.14% BG modulated the lymphocyte T CD4⁺:CD8⁺ ratio (p = 0.0368), an important marker of immune system efficiency. The inclusion of 0.14% BG resulted in the best responses and was the best dose evaluated. Full article

A 4-year-old mixed breed dog and a 19-year-old English cocker spaniel dog were evaluated for fecal incontinence. The second dog’s fecal incontinence was associated with the anal mass. In both dogs, reconstruction of the external anal sphincter was required to gain fecal continence. Especially in the dog with an anal mass, the whole musculature involved in fecal continence was removed with the affected anorectum. Conventional surgical treatments for fecal incontinence have limitations in terms of muscle flap length and complexity of the surgical procedure. A modified surgical technique using the semitendinosus muscle was devised in the present study to overcome these limitations. The distal part of the semitendinosus muscle was bifurcated to make two muscle bundles, used to completely encircle the anorectum. These muscle bundles were sutured to the surrounding rectal muscle and the pelvic diaphragm to simulate the function of the external anal sphincter. Three months after surgery, both dogs showed significantly improved fecal continence without severe complications, such as infection, dehiscence, or lameness of the limb where the semitendinosus muscle was harvested. The outcomes of the two dogs supported the acceptability of the bifurcated muscle flap for anal sphincter augmentation. In addition, this report showed the possibility of more diverse applications of semitendinosus muscle in dogs. Full article

Background: Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a plasma cell tumor that is very rarely reported in ocular and adnexal tissue and is usually solitary and benign. Methods: This study evaluated seven cases from different ophthalmology referrals submitted for histopathological analysis between 2013 and 2022. Results: EMPs were diagnosed in a 9-year-old domestic short-haired cat and in six dogs (median age, 10 years): three English Cocker Spaniels, a Golden Retriever, a Maltese, and a Pinscher. EMPs affected the third eyelid conjunctiva in five cases (5/7), followed by the superior bulbar (1/7) and palpebral conjunctivae (1/7), respectively, and were presented mostly as well-defined, salmon-colored nodules. Histopathologically, the masses were composed of sheets and packets of round cells morphologically consistent with mature plasma cells with mild anisocytosis and anisokaryosis; mitosis and binucleated giant cells were rarely observed. Follow up for 6/7 cases ranged from 6 months to 2 years. No signs of recurrence or systemic involvement (multiple myeloma) were observed. Conclusions: EMP should be included in the differential diagnoses of canine and feline conjunctival masses. Staging recommendations should include multiple myeloma diagnostic evaluation. Our results suggest that primary conjunctival EMP does not appear to be locally aggressive and has low systemic involvement behavior. The local surgical excision alone or combined with cryotherapy should be curative. Full article

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) due to the c.5G>A mutation in the progressive rod–cone degeneration (PRCD) gene is an important genetic disease in English cocker spaniel (ECS) dogs. Because the prevalence of this disease has not been verified in Brazil, this study aimed to evaluate the allele frequency of the c.5G>A mutation in the PRCD gene. Purified DNA from 220 ECS dogs was used for genotyping, of which 131 were registered from 18 different kennels and 89 were unregistered. A clinical eye examination was performed in 28 of the genotyped animals; 10 were homozygous mutants. DNA fragments containing the mutation region were amplified by PCR and subjected to direct genomic sequencing. The prcd-PRA allele frequency was 25.5%. Among the registered dogs, the allele frequency was 14.9%; among the dogs with no history of registration, the allele frequency was 41%. Visual impairment was observed in 80% (8/10) of the homozygous mutant animals that underwent clinical eye examination. The high mutation frequency found in this study emphasizes the importance of genotyping ECSs as an early diagnostic test, especially as part of an informed breeding program, to avoid clinical cases of PRA. Full article